The pit crew fo▨r newly-crowned Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson has claimed the season-long Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge competition.

Though Johnson's No. 48 Lowe's crew was tied with Tony Stewart's crew with five wins each, the tiebreaker went to Johnson's crew for having the highest finish in the driver point standings.

For winning the season pit crew championship, Johnson's team will collect a $105,000 bꦿonus from Checkers/Rally's. The presentation will be made Nov. 30 in New York City at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon.

By winning the Checkers/Rally's weekly ༺competition five times and earning $10,500 for each victory, the total prize money earned in 2006 by Johnson's pit crew was $157,500.

Johnson's over-the-wall crew consists of: Chris Anderson (jackman), Art Simmons (front-tire carrier), Mike Trower (front-tire changer), Ron Malec (rear-tire carrier), Tim Ladyga (rear-tire changer), Rich Gutꦆierrez (gasman), Mike Knauer (catch can) and Sean Kerlin (eighth-man). The team's pit crew coach is Matt Clark and the crew chief is Chad Knaus.

"I'd like to congratulate Jimmie Johnson's crew for winning the Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge championship as well as the NASCAR Nextel Cup cജhampionship," said Rich Turer, vice president of mౠarketing, Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. "It was a competitive season among the pit crews with 15 different teams winning the weekly competition. Checkers/Rally's is excited to bring the spotlight to the crew members, who play an integral role in the success of each team."